Bruno Fernandes named Premier League Player of the Season

Bruno Fernandes has been named the Premier League Player of the Season after a standout campaign for Manchester United F.C..

The Portugal international adds the award to the Football Writers’ Association Men’s Player of the Year honour he received earlier this month. Fernandes played a key role in helping Manchester United secure third place in the Premier League and qualification for next season’s UEFA Champions League.

The midfielder registered eight goals and equalled the Premier League single-season assist record after providing his 20th assist during United’s match against Nottingham Forest F.C. last weekend. Fernandes also created 132 chances throughout the campaign, more than any other player in the league and 43 more than the second-highest creator, Dominik Szoboszlai of Liverpool F.C..

He becomes the first Manchester United player to win the Premier League Player of the Season award since Nemanja Vidić claimed the honour in 2011. The winner was determined through a combination of public votes and selections from a panel of football experts.

Other shortlisted nominees included David Raya, Gabriel Magalhães and Declan Rice of Arsenal F.C., Erling Haaland of Manchester City F.C., Antoine Semenyo, Igor Thiago and Morgan Gibbs-White. Manchester United are scheduled to face Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. in their final league match of the season on Sunday.

Meanwhile, several members of United’s coaching staff, including Steve Holland, Jonny Evans, Jonathan Woodgate, Travis Binnion and Craig Mawson, have signed new two-year contracts to remain part of manager Michael Carrick’s backroom team. Carrick himself signed a permanent two-year contract on Friday after initially taking interim charge following the departure of Ruben Amorim in January.

In the Premier League Young Player of the Season category, Nico O’Reilly of Manchester City claimed the award after an impressive breakthrough campaign. The 21-year-old defender scored five goals and provided three assists in 34 league appearances.

O’Reilly, who joined Manchester City’s academy at the age of eight, also earned his first senior England cap in November and has been included in Thomas Tuchel’s 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He beat competition from fellow Manchester City player Rayan Cherki, Bournemouth pair Junior Kroupi and Alex Scott, Kobbie Mainoo of Manchester United, Lewis Hall, Michael Kayode and Matheus Fernandes.